Fifth Avenue Forum

Believe me, I'm all about going green as much as possible. But like c2i said, the tech isn't there, nor is the price.

$23,570 for 9.60 kWh panels and one Powerwall through Tesla for my house. What I don't see is the break even calculation that I swear their site used to show. The one difference is that now the panels have a 94% energy offset, which is much higher than the last time I checked.

Hmm, about 18 years to break even. So that continues to be the deal breaker for me.

If and when I do install some solar stuff, I'm not so sure it's going to be a "what's in it for me" or even a break even calculation. I'm not doing that with the PHEV car I'm planning to buy. I just think the tech is cool and am going to buy it.

It's a valid concern for me, given that I don't intend to retire in this house.

Did you consider resale value with solar vs without?

Did you consider resale value with solar vs without?

No, but I definitely would have before making a purchase. I guess that could swing things.

Does anybody have a proven solution to changing 20+ft high ceiling light bulbs that does not involve climbing on a ladder? I am thinking about buying something like this Stauber light bulb changer:



but I am curious is somebody here has successfully used tools like these...

That's a lot of dough to skip the ladder portion of the job.

What a humble brag… ohhhhh look at me. I have 20ft ceilings.

Could be worse… could be really short and unable to change lightbulbs on an 8ft ceiling without a ladder.

That's a lot of dough to skip the ladder portion of the job.

HVAC guys were able to - barely - reach my ceiling with the largest ladder I have ever seen. There is no way I'd ever climb on that (the expected value of medical bills vastly exceeds the price of the light bulb changing pole). So my only alternative is to hire a crew to do it for me (which is more expensive than buying the pole as well...).

I am rather skeptical, though, about the "suction cup" being able to exert sufficient suction that allows unscrewing a bulb that might have been in that ceiling for many years (we bought that house last year and the bulbs started dying quite frequently lately).

My favorite is when the bulb comes out without the base, which is still stuck in the socket. That's a pain in the ass at waist level, never mind on a 20 foot ladder. Fortunately, LED and CFL bulbs don't really do that.

We have a light that's about 16 feet up on the stairs to our bonus room. I've had to change that 3X during our 15 years here, and it was an absolute menace. First, I had to use an extension ladder, angle it inside the house, and then up the stairs without denting doors or walls. Then I have to angle it on the landing to reach the light fixture and the my big ass has to climb up the ladder GENTLY so as to not dent the sheetrock where the ladder rests (even with the ends wrapped in towels). I have to disassemble the light to get to the bulb, swap it out, and Bob's your uncle.

The first time I did it was probably 7-8 years ago, when LED bulbs started getting cheaper. Unfortunately, those old bulbs didn't do well in hot locations - as we don't run HVAC all the time up there. So 95+F and the bulb died within a couple of months. Another incandescent bulb went in, and that lasted until a year or two ago when I put a new LED bulb that seems to be fine with the heat (fingers crossed for two more weeks!!!)

Cut a potato in half and you can remove a broken bulb easily.

Hmm, about 18 years to break even. So that continues to be the deal breaker for me.

What’s the lifespan of these panels? Will they last 18 years in Pennsylvania?

Hmm, about 18 years to break even. So that continues to be the deal breaker for me.

What’s the lifespan of these panels? Will they last 18 years in Pennsylvania?

Not sure, but my neighbor told me that the warranty on them makes it so that they are replaced free of charge for 25 years.

Hmm, about 18 years to break even. So that continues to be the deal breaker for me.

What’s the lifespan of these panels? Will they last 18 years in Pennsylvania?

Not sure, but my neighbor told me that the warranty on them makes it so that they are replaced free of charge for 25 years.

That would definitely give me some peace of mind but I would still be concerned with two things.
1. The company is out of business before the warranty runs out
2. The technology changes so much in that timeframe that it’s not as simple as just swapping out a panel. That I’d maybe have to put in a whole new system.

Bathroom reno starts Monday. Contractor back in Ovtober told us it would be a 2 week job. Wifey said when he came by last week to revisit before the crew comes Monday “so, two weeks then?” Ge said, “Uh, did I tell you two weeks? This is a bigger job than that.” Not a ton of confidence right now and it isn’t even started yet.

Bathroom reno starts Monday. Contractor back in Ovtober told us it would be a 2 week job. Wifey said when he came by last week to revisit before the crew comes Monday “so, two weeks then?” Ge said, “Uh, did I tell you two weeks? This is a bigger job than that.” Not a ton of confidence right now and it isn’t even started yet.

Bathroom reno starts Monday. Contractor back in Ovtober told us it would be a 2 week job. Wifey said when he came by last week to revisit before the crew comes Monday “so, two weeks then?” Ge said, “Uh, did I tell you two weeks? This is a bigger job than that.” Not a ton of confidence right now and it isn’t even started yet.

The more you post in here, the more I think my contractor has changed the name of his business

A transformer blew nearby at 4am last night. Heavy rain but no lightning that I could see.

It sent a surge through the house. Two loud audible pop/bangs. It tripped a bunch of circuit breakers. Three of the 15amp breakers won't turn back. Just an immediate small 'pop' when I try to reset them. My bedroom, the basement, and somewhere else (not labeled, of course). Our HVAC unit is on its own untripped two-pull circuit but it's dead as well.

Sounds like it's time to put in a whole house surge system at the breaker box.

I don't know anything about electrical systems, it's just a completely foreign concept to me. That said there is a round canister-shaped attachment to the breaker box that claims to be a surge protector. Who knows how old/effective it is.

At least it's only going up to 92 this week.

Sounds like an insurance claim to me, but not sure if something like that is covered.

Yeah, i can't go two months without electricity. I'm still waiting on a new roof and ceiling.